Huawei enters VR with headset launch

Huawei is set to launch a virtual reality (VR) headset.

The manufacturer made the announcement at the Chinese launch of its new P9 smartphone, techradar has reported. The move will see it join a number of established brands in the VR space.

The last few months has seen a major drive from handset manufacturers to move into this new market. Huawei’s latest device will compete directly with VR headsets from Samsung, HTC and LG, who all used this year’s Mobile World Congress to launch VR strategies.

Huawei’s strategic shift

The news follows a change in strategy at the Chinese manufacturer, who has shifted its focus onto building products that can monetise video-based services.

Huawei has previously said that the advent of 4G and over-the-top features have fuelled data usage and changed the way consumer access content. To tap into this demand, the company has heavily invested in video, with virtual reality the next step in its strategy.